Feel like work are trying to force me onto maternity leave early

[Slh122]

I posted on here last week regarding my footwear situation at work (under a different name I think)
When I first fell pregnant my pregnancy was being treated as a suspected ectopic and I had a few days off work. I let my manager know the situation. When I returned to work I decided to apply for a promotion that came up. My manager told me I wouldn't be considered for it as I was pregnant and in her words 'in 7 months time they'd only need to replace me so it's pointless'.
I went to HR about it and they decided I could apply and I was given the promotion.
Now I am 33 weeks pregnant and quite big. 2 weeks ago I was told I could wear my own maternity clothes to work (I work in a customer facing environment in fashion retail) and could wear my Uggs. Last week she told me I couldn't wear my Uggs anymore - fair enough, I went and bought some new black shoes that I could wear comfortably.
However yesterday I was suddenly told I had to wear my work uniform (dresses etc) again and that if I came to work in anything else I'd be sent home unpaid.
So today I have come in in one of my work dresses. It is very tight and doesn't fit me well anymore. My manager has said I am dressed inappropriately! I have been told to buy something else from work to wear - I have no uniform allowance left and was told I had to buy it myself. Even with my staff discount a dress from there is going to cost a considerable amount!
she then took me aside and said that yesterday she noticed I was 'standing around doing nothing' which is completely untrue. I am not lazy at work. She said they don't feel I can do my job properly anymore and have suggested I 'revise' my maternity leave start date.
Another girl at work has apparently been offered my position when I go on ML. I pointed out I would be returning but she told me her and work have just assumed I'm not coming back so now it looks like I don't even have a job to come back to.
What can I do?

Contact your HR. The manager can "assume" all she wants, it doesn't change your legal rights. I'm pretty certain HR will also say you can wear your maternity clothes again.

What on earth do they think they are doing?!

I suggest that you copy and paste this....

I am 33 weeks pregnant.
I was given permission to wear my maternity clothes to work.

On 10th December XXX informed me that I had to wear my uniform again and that if I came to work in anything else I would be sent home unpaid.

So, on 11th December I wore one of my work dresses.
It was very tight and due to my obvious pregnacy.
XXX informed me that I was dressed inappropriately and that I must buy something else from work to wear.
I have no uniform allowance left so I would have to pay for this myself.
Even with a staff discount this will be a considerable expense at a time when I need to allocate my funds toward providing for my baby.

XXX then took me aside and said that she noticed I was 'standing about doing nothing'.
This is not true. I am not a lazy worker.
XXX said that 'they' don't feel I can do my job properly any more and have suggested I revise my maternity leave start date.
I was informed that another girl at work has been offered my position when I go on maternity leave.
I pointed out that I would be returning after maternity leave.
XXX said that she and the company have assumed I'm not coming back.

I am upset and concerned about what I consider to be this unfavourable treatment, due to my pregnancy, regarding my work clothes.

I am seriously concerned about my future job security now that I have been informed that it appears that the company doesn't intend to honour my right to return to work after my maternity leave.

I would appreciate a written response to my concerns at your earliest convenience.

Yours etc.

Print 3 copies. Keep one for yourself. Hand two copies to HR and get whoever you hand them to to sign and date one of them and immediately return it to you, so that you can prove receipt.

I agree with Marie, great letter.
TBH it sounds like your manager has no HR skills whatsoever. It is almost certain that HR will agree with you. Certainly (whether you hear about it or no I would expect her to get a severe talking to on the maternity leave comments)

Addition: in between the two ' I am... sentences insert-

I am concerned that my employer is applying pressure to make me start my maternity leave earlier than I had planned.

Does the shop you work in actually stock maternity clothes?

Because if it dosn't, I'd point that out in your letter too. The heavily pregnant body doesn't just fit into ordinary clothes (even in a larger size) properly.

You need to make HR aware of this as your manager cannot be saying these things. So long as you return to work within 6 months you should have the right to return to your current role. If you return between 6 and 12 months to work then the company has the right to change your role subject to it being of a similar nature/package etc.

The comments of your manager are completely wrong and should be addressed. Is she normally so difficult or is it since she found out you were pregnant? Sounds like she is trying to force you out and doesn't want either a pregnant woman or in the future a mother working in her team.

As a pregnant worker , you are protected. I really don't think they can make you start your maternity leave early.Of course they want you to, any sane employer would rather have the worker back sooner after mat leave, rather than someone heavily pregnant. I believe it's tough shit, but I am sure someone with employment law expertise will be along shortly.

If you are signed off sick by a doctor they can make you start maternity leave at 36 weeks. Otherwise you can work right to the end if you so choose and are able to do so.

Thanks everyone some really helpful advice.
I don't think she likes the 'disruption' I am causing to the team - I work in a fairly senior role within the team. Another colleague of mine who has a child often has problems with them if she needs to take her daughter to the doctors or tries to book holidays within school holiday time, etc. Most of the other team are either older ladies with grown up children or younger teenage girls. I have had issues with taking time off to go to my midwife appointments/scans etc - she tried to tell me I wasn't entitled to paid time off for them and then that I was no longer allowed time off or to swap my shifts when I have midwife appointments!

I think she needs a refresher course in the law!

Posters upthread have already given good advice. Write the letter!

Other than that, your manager should familiarise herself with policies protecting pregnant employees. She sounds like she is incompetent and it's going to bite her in the arse. I hope.

And no we don't stock maternity clothes, it's a high-end fashion store (quite well known as well) and it's all dresses and a lot of occasion wear.

Well it is silly to expect you to be able to wear the clothes! Unless you could wear a big maxi dress! Other than that, past 7 months the only normal clothes i could wear were big baggy trackies. Obviously if you wear your own maternity clothes they need to be of a similar smartness. They would be right to complain if you are turning up in leggings and a baggy jumper. But if they do not stock anything you can get into then you have no choice buy to wear your own clothes.
if she is not keeping your job open for you i would contact the HR department in head office. In fact i would do that anyway about the time off for appointments and the clothing issues.

Have you contacted HR? I think they would be very interested to hear about all of this.

KatAndKit is right your manager really needs a refresher course in the law.

So far, she's racked up at least 3 potential employment tribunal claims against your employer.

Oh my god. I'm frankly amazed that a manager thinks they can say / do these things. If your HR department is worth their salt they would be horrified (and terrified) at the number of claims she's allowing you to rack up...

I spoke to HR and I have been offered an extension on my uniform allowance. However I've tried some things on this morning and nothing fits me! Even size 18s and 20s - they are tight round my bump and hang off my shoulders and legs.
There's some longer tops that I've tried on but they're too short to wear with leggings and I've been told I'm not allowed to wear my maternity jeans/trousers.
I have a couple of black jersey maternity dresses that I've been wearing and have been told I can only wear those 'as a completely last option.'

Have also been told off repeatedly for 'doing nothing' when I've actually been doing jobs. am really starting to lose my patience now and cried on my lunch break. If I didn't need the extra money I'd be on maternity leave by now as I've had enough.

Are you a member of a union? You need to take your complaints higher up. It is ridiculous to force you to wear normal clothes at that stage of your pregnancy. Especially as they wont even compromise by letting you wear your plain black trousers and their top.

the treatment you are receiving is illegal. I think you are going to need to keep a written daily log of what is happening as you may well need legal advice.

Another option is to claim the stress is too much, you cant cope with how she is behaving and get a nice GP to sign you off till 36 weeks.

this only works if your company sick pay policy is half decent though!

Can you get your manager to see how ridiculous the oversized non-maternity clothes look on you?

Did you raise any of the other points with HR?

It's not Hobbs is it? Friend of mine had a dreadful time with them when pregnant. I would contact Acas.

I'm afraid that simply speaking to HR is unlikely to resolve all your issues.
Conversations are too easily 'forgotten' or 'remembered very differently' so there's no real incentive for HR to take the proper action.
I'm concerned that, with these repeated tellings off for 'doing nothing', your manager could possibly be laying the groundwork for taking disciplinary action for non-performance.
The clothing issue is minor in comparison to this . So, don't feel that HR are doing there part with their partial resolution to this one issue.
If this situation continues, or gets much worse and you end up dismissed, you'll have no evidence that these things that you speak of took place or that you ever raised any of these issues.
I've known people who have resigned in these type of situations, thus letting the employer get off scot free, leaving the employer feeling bitter.

You really need to go formal (everything in writing) at this point.
Think - 'If it's not written down, it didn't happen.'

Think about it and let us know how you want to proceed.
I've only been on this forum for a short time, but long enough to know that you'll get all the help you need here.

No not Hobbs but you're on the right lines brand-wise! Hobbs is one of our main competitors.
Yes have emailed it all to HR. I don't hold much hope they are notoriously bad for dealing with things - 3 members of my team made separate complaints about the area manager and nothing got done.
Company sick pay is full pay but I really don't want to be forced out of my job. The doctor has offered to sign me off before as I have SPD so I suppose there is always that.

Your manager is trying to force you out. Don't let her. Keep a log of EVERYTHING and yes inform HR each and every time. Just keep calm and stick it out.

Don't feel this is a reflection on you and your work. The degree of pregnancy related discrimination still operating in the workplace is quite staggering. You are experiencing what many women experience and it's very stressful and very wrong. It's all about them though, not about you. You've done nothing to deserve this.

I have got a copy of the company's maternity policy and it states that pregnant employees can wear their own maternity clothes as long as they are smart and appropriate for work after they have cleared it with their manager. Can I actually be sent home unpaid if I turn up in my maternity clothes as she threatened?